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Of particular interest amongst the numerous sets of instrumental duos composed by François Devienne is the fifth ‘livre’ comprising six ‘duos concertants’ for the uncommon pairing of flute and viola; the viola does not, as one might expect, provide a bass line to the flute but is treated as a treble instrument. All of the duos are cast in two movements, generally an allegro followed by either a rondo or a theme and variations, and they feature various solo episodes for each of the two instruments.
As is generally the case with Devienne’s music, the duos are imbued with graceful melodies and elegant harmonic progressions that validate the composer’s moniker, ‘the French Mozart’. These miniature gems of Classical chamber music must have been enthusiastically received upon their publication in 1784; the following year they appeared in a version for two flutes which, however, lacks the particular character and timbral uniqueness of the original.
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Music example Duo 1 (pdf)
